For Such a Time

 The link for this week's live-streamed service is here.

Every year on Remembrance Day we stand in solemn silence and vow "to remember them." We read the names of those who fell in past wars. We grieve for the families left behind, for the potential left unfulfilled. We look at history and promise ourselves never to let that happen again.

Yet, this year, 2023, the ceremony feels different. Wars are raging around the world and two of them, one in Europe, one in the Middle East, feel especially close to us. As a land of immigrants many of our fellow citizens have direct ties with these troubled parts of the world. The wars feel personal and present. They are not tales in a movie or a history book. They are real and they are now and they are horrific.

As we "remember them," how do we face the news with its unending reel of carnage and sorrow and death? 

Can we recite "lest we forget" while bombs and blood and hate explode in our world? It would seem we have forgotten. Forgotten that our forebears went to war to secure peace for their children and succeeding generations.

How do we make our "Act of Remembrance" meaningful in the face of today's headlines?

A couple of week's ago, our choir sang an anthem, "For Such a Time as This."  The title comes from the Book of Esther, but the poetry is ageless, and offers guidance for our time.

For such a time as this, we are called to service,
For such a time as this, we care called to grace,
For such a time as this, we are called to worship,

This is the day that God has made,

And at such a time, we are called to praise.

For such a time as this, we are called to purpose

For such a time as this, we are called to care,

For such a time as this we are called to worship.

For everything there is a season 

And a time when God's purpose is fulfilled.

May heaven always find us faithful

Always find us grateful

When God's call to service is revealed.

For such a time as this we are called to mission

For such a time as this we are called to work.

This is the day that God has made,

And at such a time, we are called to praise.

                                   by Joseph Martin

Service, mission, work, praise, grace, gratitude -- these qualities we can cultivate and practice, even in the face of war. Our "Remembrance" is made meaningful by the lives we live after November 11. We honour those who sacrificed for us, by holding high the values of grace and gratitude. We laud our fallen by offering our service to others, by working to build peace in the world.

For Esther, "such a time" was when her people were threatened with extermination. For us, "such a time" is now. Upheavals in world order, disquieting cultural change, stress in our financial lives, are top of mind. Problems that seem overwhelming, beyond our abilities to solve. Yet, we are called to care, to praise, to worship, -- we can do those things. 

Sunday's Presbyterian Devotional was titled "Small Things," and reminded us that God cares about the small things, like sparrows. Every day, we can all do small things to further the Kingdom of God on earth, and to honour those who gave up their todays to give us  better tomorrows.

Prayer and Fasting

 Link for this week's live-streamed service is here

Lovely to see the sun this week reflected in the brilliant daffodils Dorothy brought to church on Sunday. 

Last weekend I was pruning fruit trees and got chased inside by the hail -- and a cat that was really annoyed at being out in that weather. This weekend I finished the job while enjoying the sun on my back.  Let's hope the return of better weather means a return to fewer public health restrictions. 

Also, lovely to see Gladys back at church and walking without a walker. Welcome home, Gladys. And welcome in to the newcomers who have appeared in our midst these last few weeks. There is a hymn by James Manley that starts "Come in, come in and sit down, --you are a part of the family."  Consider this your invitation to be a part of the family at Saanich Peninsula Presbyterian Church.

As we are now in the season of Lent our congregation has received a challenge to share. 

"Each day remove 1 item from your closet that you no longer need or wear and put it into a bag. At the end of the 40 days, donate the items to a place than can share them with someone who can really use them."

 Please don't consider this an exercise in de-cluttering, rather, give up each item with an offering of prayer that it may enrich the life of someone else.

Bible Study resumes on Wed. March 16. We will be talking about fasting. In our modern world most people undertake a fast for health reasons, but fasting in the Biblical sense is rare. Yet, this past week I caught the tale end of an announcement on the radio that used the words "fast and pray." On Ash Wednesday, various religious leaders including Pope Francis and the Archbishop of Canterbury called for all Christians to "fast and pray" for Ukraine. 

The phrase brought to mind Esther, who, at a time of great national danger, sent for "all the Jews in Susa to fast and pray." Esther 4:16 Tomorrow is International Women's Day, so it seems fitting to remember a strong woman from the Bible who found the courage to disobey the king, and with prayer and fasting, save her people.   

For all the women of Ukraine, may God hear our prayer.